Adjustable ring book



v Pt- 1936. I I H} 'r. ADAMS Ef AL 2,055,273

' ADJUSTABLE RING BOOK Filed March 13, 1935 ,Zizz'erz Patented Sept. 22,1936 UNITED STATES.

PATENT. lorries ca 1 Adams said Nachtrieb. assi'gnor to said ApplicationMarch 13, 1935, SerialNo..10,91Z

10 Claims.

This invention relates to an adjustable ring-' book and moreparticularly to metal parts therefor.

An object of the invention is to provide a ringbook in which two orthree or more rings may be adjustably secured and in which the operationof the ring sections is facilitated by booster levers. A further objectis to provide a metal back strip equipped with rods or wires to whichring sections are adjustably secured, the ring sections being providedwith improved interlocking connections. Other specific objects andadvantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, by theaccompanying drawing, in

which- Figure .1 is a top plan view of metal parts for a loose-leaf bookembodying our invention; Fig. 2, a'bottom plan view; Fig. 3, an enlargeddetail sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 3 ofFig. 1; Fig. 4. a view similar to.

Fig. 3, but showing the ring sections open; Fig. 5, a detail sectionalview, the section being taken as indicated at line 5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6,a broken plan detail view ofa pair of ring sections spaced apart to showtheir inner connecting ends; Fig. 7, a sectional view of a mo'difiedformof construction illustrating an initial step for securing a ring sectionto "a wire; and Fig. 8, a similar view showing the connecting operationcompleted.

In the illustration, I0 designates a metal back strip provided withinturned spring side walls I I. The back strip III is provided withopenings I2 through which the ring sections I3 extend.

Housed between the spring side walls II are the rods or wires I4 whichare identical in con struction. In theillustration given, each of thewires '14 is provided with in-bends l5 at three points, to whichin-bends are secured the ring sections I3. One end of each wire I4'terminates near the end of the back strip II], but the other end isextended through an'opening I6 in the end wall [1 of back strip I ll andis then turned at right angles to provide a booster lever I8.Preferably, the end of the wire is flattened to provide a thumb piece'ISwhich, if desired,'may be provided with knurling or superficialroughening '20.

Anysuitable means for securing the in-bends I5 to the ring sections I3may be employed. I prefer, however, to swage' the in-bends I5 tojprovide flanges 2 'I which are received within the T-slots 22 of thering sections I3. It will be observed from the showing in Fig. 6 thatthe flanges ZI taper'near their ends inwardly toward the body of thewire and thistaper facilitates the threading of the flanges 2| withinthe-T- slots 22 of the ring sections I3. The flanges 2I and T-slots 22 areso formedthat when the flanges are drawn within, the slots, the partsbecome firmly locked in the position shown in Fig. 6. However, if it isdesired to remove the ring sec: tion 13 from engagement with the bendI5, this may be done by sliding the ring section later:- allyt On theother hand, if it is desired tojforr'n a permanent connection, thewirebend ,l5 may be tapped to expand .themetal within the T slot to forma permanent interlock. It will be understoodthat instead of employing aT-slot and corresponding flange, that a dovetail con struction. maybeemployed. If desired, the ring section I3 may be sheared or flattenedonone side to provide a straight face 23,.as shown in Figs. 7 and. 8,the straight facebeing. adapted to lie against the bottom of a recess 24with which the in-bend I5 is provided. Theadjacent metal 25 of the wirebend I5is then spun. about the ring section I3 to form the interlock, asshown in Fig. 8. It will be understood thatwhile we have shown severalmethods of connecting the ring sections to the. wire bends I5,-manyother suitable methods maybensed. ,j N u M The ring. sections I3 areprovided attheir inner ends with suitable interlockingconnections. Weprefer that each ring section shallbe a .duplicate of the other and thatthe interlocking ends be identical, in construction. As shown moreclearly in Figs. 3, 4 and 6, the lower face of each interlocking end isbevelled as indicated by the numeral 26 while the upper face of each endis provided with a shoulder projection 21., ,Adjacent each shoulder 21is arearwardly, inclined bevel 28. When the two ends are bro ght to:gether, as illustrated more clearly in Figs, 3 and 4, it will beobserved that the two endsmeet along a line which is formed by the twobeveled surfaces 26 and 28, and that the interlocking shoulders 21maintain the ends against lateral movement. In order to bring theshoulders 21 against each other and to maintain them in this position,we have formed the inner faces of theends with about a 5 taper, as shownmore clearly in 6. This slight taper of the inner contacting. facescauses the locking shoulders to remain in contact.

While we have described a particular form of interlocking end foreachring section I3 which has the advantage ofcausingthe ring sections tooscillate about a single line point, thus reducing the frictionalsurface between two engaging ring sections, it willbeunderstoodthatother types of hinge connections may be employed in combinathe priorart. a We claim:

tion with other features of our invention.

In order to lock the free end portions of the wires firmly against thespring walls H, and in order to adapt the metal back strip to a roundback notebook, we provide the reinforcing strips or buttons 29, as shownmore clearly in Figs. 2 and 5. The member 29 comprises a rounded webportion 30 which is adapted to be placed against the rounded back of thecover, and which is provided centrally with an opening 3| through whichthe rivet or other fastening means may be extended. The opening 3| isaligned with an opening 32 in the back strip l0 and through which alsothe rivet may be extended. The

'member 29 is also provided with depending spring arms 33 which arepreferably curved inwardly at 34 to provide locking shoulders 35 adaptedto engage the wires I 4 and the outer free ends of the spring side wallsll. 7 I

In the operation of the device, the booster handle I 8 may be raised toopen the ring sections and/when depressed, will close the ring sections.It will be observed that when the ring sections are closed, the boosterhandle lies in the same plane with the metal back strip. In the swingingmovement of the ring sections, the contacting surface between two of thering sections is the 1* single line, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.The

reinforcing strips or buttons 29 may be shifted longitudinally ofthestrip to bring the openings 3| into alignment with the openings 32 ofthe back strip Ill so that the round'back of the looseleaf cover may beattached thereto by riveting. If it is desired to attach the back stripto a cover having a flat back, the buttons 29 may be readily removedfrom engagement with the back strip I 0.

In assembling the ring sections uponthe inbends l5, the T-slots 22 ofthe ring sections are drawn over the tapered ends of. the flanges 2|,and the ring sections are then drawn toward the central wider parts ofthe flanges 2 I. This drawing operation tightens the ring sections uponthe flanges 2| and gives them the desired rigidity. At any latertime,,if desired, the ring sections may be removed by exerting lateralpressurethereon; or, if desired, the ring. sections can be permanentlysecured to' the wires bytapping the wires adjacent theiianges 2|. w

While in the illustration given, we have shown the metal back stripequipped with twobooster levers l8, it'will be understood that one ofthe levers may be omitted. if desired. There is a distinct advantage inhaving two levers not only because of the facility forv operation by theuser, butalso as an aid to'the manufacturer in securing the back striplparts to the cover of a loose-leaf book. In the latter operation, themanufacturer need nottake pains to secure the back strip in a four, ormore rings may be as readily employed by varyingjthe number of in-bendsl5 employed. The foregoing detailed description has been given forclearness of understanding only, and ino 'unnecessary limitations shouldbe understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed asbroadly a s permissible, in view of V 1 In a ring-book, a metal backstrip provided with spring side walls, a pair of wire members engagingsaid spring walls, each of said wire members being provided with atleast one in-bend aligned with the corresponding in-bend of the otherwire member, and ring sections, said inbends and ring sections beingequipped with means for releasably securing one to the other.

2. In a ring-book, a metal'back strip provided with spring side walls, apair of wire members engaging said side walls, each of said wire membershaving at least one in-bend aligned with a corresponding in-bend of theother member, ring sections, and releasable interlocking connectionsbetween said in-bends and said ring sections.

3. In a ring-book, a metal back strip provided with spring side walls, apair of wire members engaging said side walls, each of said wire membershaving at least one in-bend aligned with a corresponding in-bend of theother member, ring sections, and interlocking connections between saidin-bends and said ring sections, each interlocking connection providinga slot in said ring section and a flange in the corresponding wiremember.

4. In a ring-book, a metal back strip provided with spring side walls, apair of wire members engaging said side walls, each of said wire membersbeing provided at least with one in-bend aligned with a correspondingin-bend of the other member, ring section members, and interlockingconnections between the in-bends of said wire members and said ringsections, each interlocking connection comprising a flange on one memberand a groove in its corresponding member.

5. In a ring-book, a metal back strip provided with spring side walls,wires engaging said side walls, each wire member having an in-bendaligned with a corresponding in-bend of the other wire member, ringsections secured'to said aligned inbends, said ring sections each havingits inner end shaped to provide a line and said sections being alsoprovided with interlocking shoulders maintaining the lines of said ringsections in contact.

6. In a ring-book, a metal back strip having spring side walls, wiresengaging said side walls and provided with aligned iii-bends, ringsections secured to a pair of aligned in-bends and having their innerends in interlocking engagement, said ends being provided withinterlocking shoulders having sides extending transversely of saidwires, said sides being in engagement.

7. In a ring-book, a metal back strip having spring side walls, wiresengaging said side walls,

said wires having aligned in-bends, a pair of I ring sections engaging apair of aligned in-bends, said ring sections having their inner endsprovided with interlocking vertical shoulders and having theircontacting faces tapered so as to maintain the lateral faces of saidshoulders in contact.

8. In a ring-book, a metal back strip having spring side walls, metalwires engaging said side walls and provided with aligned in-bends, apair of ring sections engaging a pair of said aligned in-bends, saidring sections having their inner contacting ends each shaped to presenta line and said lines being in contact, said ends being provided withinterlocking means for maintaining said lines together.

9. In a'ring-book, a metal back strip having spring side walls, a pairof wire members engaging said spring side walls and having pairs ofaligned in-bends, complementary ring sections secured toeach pair ofaligned in-bends, and an attaching button equipped with arms adapted toengage said wires and the spring walls of said back strip, saidattaching button being provided with a curved perforated back.

I 10. In a ring-book, a perforated metal back strip having spring sidewalls, wires engaging said side walls and provided with a pair ofaligned inbends, a pair of complementary ring sections secured to saidin-bends, an attachment button releasably engaging the spring walls ateach end of said. back strip, said buttons being provided with curvedrear walls and having arms which engage and partially surround, thewires, said buttons having perforations aligned with the perforations 5in said back strip.

HENRY T. ADAMS. NORMAN D. NACHTRIEB.

